Imaging unit and imaging apparatus

ABSTRACT

The imaging unit of the present disclosure is an imaging unit rotatable about a first axis. The imaging unit includes a lens holder and an operating member. The lens holder holds a lens on its surface, has a first gear on its rear face, and is rotatable about a second axis in forward and backward directions. The operating member has a second gear engaged with the first gear, is rotatable about a third axis in forward and backward directions, and faces the rear face of the lens holder. A plane with the first axis as a normal, a plane with the second axis as a normal, and a plane with the third axis as a normal are orthogonal to each other. The lens holder rotates by rotating the operating member.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to an imaging unit and an imagingapparatus equipped with the imaging unit.

2. Description of the Related Art

PTL1 discloses a mobile communication device equipped with a rotatablecamera. Further various operations are demanded in an electronicapparatus equipped with a rotatable camera, such as this mobilecommunication device.

CITATION LIST Patent Literature

PTL1 Unexamined Japanese Patent Application No. 2003-51872

SUMMARY

The present disclosure offers an imaging unit including a mechanism fortilting a lens forward and backward, and an imaging apparatus equippedwith the imaging unit.

To solve the above disadvantage, the imaging unit of the presentdisclosure is an imaging unit rotatable about a first axis. The imagingunit includes a lens holder and an operating member. The lens holderholds a lens on its surface, has a first gear on its rear face, and isrotatable about a second axis in forward and backward directions. Theoperating member has a second gear engaged with the first gear, isrotatable about a third axis in forward and backward directions, andfaces the rear face of the lens holder. A plane with the first axis as anormal, a plane with the second axis as a normal, and a plane with thethird axis as a normal are orthogonal to each other. The lens holderrotates by rotating the operating member.

The imaging apparatus of the present disclosure includes an imagingapparatus body, an openable unit coupled to the imaging apparatus bodyvia a hinge unit, and aforementioned imaging unit disposed at one end ofthe openable unit.

The present disclosure can offer a small imaging unit with goodoperability that can be rotated in two axial directions, and an imagingapparatus equipped with the imaging unit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an appearance of a digital video camerain accordance with an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the digital video camera in a state anopenable unit is opened (non-use state).

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the digital video camera in the statethe openable unit is opened (selfie state).

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the digital video camera in the statethe openable unit is opened (confronting shooting state).

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an electrical configuration of the digitalvideo camera.

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the openable unit of thedigital video camera.

FIG. 7A is a perspective view of a sub-camera and a switch unit.

FIG. 7B is a magnified perspective view of the switch unit shown in FIG.7A (Part 7B in FIG. 7A).

FIG. 8 illustrates transition of the switch unit in line with therotation of the sub-camera.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the sub-camera.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a camera unit of the sub-camera.

FIG. 11 is a side view of the camera unit of the sub-camera in anupright state.

FIG. 12 is a side view of the camera unit of the sub-camera in a forwardtilt state.

FIG. 13 is a side view of the camera unit of the sub-camera in abackward tilt state.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

An exemplary embodiment is detailed below with reference to drawings.However, description in details more than necessary may be omitted. Forexample, detailed description of well-known subjects and duplicatedescription of practically the same configuration may be omitted. Thisis to avoid unnecessary redundancy in the description to facilitateunderstanding of a person having ordinary skill in the art.

Inventors intend to provide attached drawings and the followingdescription to enable a person having ordinary skill in the art fullyunderstand the present disclosure. It is apparent that the descriptiontherefore does not limit in anyway the subject matters in the scope ofclaims.

Exemplary Embodiment

1. Outline of Digital Video Camera

FIG. 1 is an appearance perspective view of digital video camera 100 inthe exemplary embodiment. Digital video camera 100 is an example of animaging apparatus. As shown in FIG. 1, digital video camera 100 includescamera body 200, main camera 210 built in camera body 200, and openableunit 230 openably coupled to camera body 200 via hinge unit 220.

Openable unit 230 is coupled to camera body 200 via hinge unit 220, andis openably disposed on camera body 200, centering around hinge unit220. Sub-camera 300 is provided at one end of openable unit 230 via arotatable shaft mechanism. Sub-camera 300 is rotatable in forward andbackward directions. In other words, digital video camera 100 includesmain camera 210 and sub-camera 300. Sub-camera 300 rotates relative toopenable unit 230 to change the shooting direction. Openable unit 230can open, close, and rotate relative to camera body 200 via hinge unit220. Accordingly, sub-camera 300 can change its shooting direction invarious ways. Camera body 200 is an example of the imaging apparatusbody. Sub-camera 300 is an example of the imaging unit.

FIGS. 2, 3, and 4 are perspective views of digital video camera 100 inFIG. 1 in a state openable unit 230 is opened. FIG. 2 shows the statethat sub-camera 300 is not used (mode 1). FIGS. 3 and 4 show the selfiestate (mode 2) and confronting shooting state (mode 3) of sub-camera300, respectively.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, sub-camera 300 is installed in openableunit 230 via a rotatable mechanism that can be rotated about first axis401 in forward and backward directions. Sub-camera 300 can be rotatedclockwise from the state shown in FIG. 2 to the state in FIG. 3, andthen from the state in FIG. 3 to the state in FIG. 4 to change theshooting direction. Sub-camera 300 can also be rotated counterclockwisefrom the state in FIG. 4 to the state in FIG. 3, and then from the statein FIG. 3 to the state in FIG. 2 to change the shooting direction.

As shown in FIG. 2, openable unit 230 includes liquid crystal monitorunit 240. Liquid crystal monitor unit 240 is disposed between sub-camera300 and camera body 200. Openable unit 230 can be kept opened relativeto digital video camera 100 via hinge unit 220, as shown in FIG. 2. InFIG. 2, an imaging surface (lens side) of sub-camera 300 faces inward ofopenable unit 230 (a direction of arrow A in FIG. 2), which is thenon-use state (mode 1).

Next, as shown in FIG. 3, a photographer rotates sub-camera 300 from thenon-use state in FIG. 2 to a state (selfie state) that an imagingsurface of sub-camera 300 faces the photographer (a direction of arrow Bin FIG. 3). This enables the photographer to shoot himself/herself usingsub-camera 300. In addition, liquid crystal monitor unit 240 can overlayan image captured by sub-camera 300 on an image captured by main camera210 for display. The photographer can shoot while confirming howhimself/herself is captured by looking at a through image displayed onliquid crystal monitor unit 240.

Next, as shown in FIG. 4, the photographer rotates sub-camera 300 fromthe selfie state in FIG. 3 to a state that the imaging surface ofsub-camera 300 faces the same direction (a direction of arrow C in FIG.4) as main camera 210 (confronting shooting state). The confrontingshooting state, in which the imaging surface of sub-camera 300 faces thesame direction as main camera 210, does not only mean the case when theimaging surface of sub-camera 300 and the imaging surface of main camera210 face completely the same direction. It means that sub-camera 300captures an image in a direction the photographer is facing. The imagingsurface of sub-camera 300 and the imaging surface of main camera 210 donot need to face completely the same direction.

This enables the photographer to capture an image at a distance withmain camera 210, and capture an image nearby with sub-camera 300,allowing various ways of shooting. In this case, liquid crystal monitorunit 240 can overlay an image captured by sub-camera 300 and an imagecaptured by main camera 210 for display.

Although not illustrated in the drawing, hinge unit 220 includes a shaftfor opening and closing that is coupled to camera body 200 and arotating shaft disposed orthogonal to this shaft for opening andclosing. These shafts enable openable unit 230 to open and rotaterelative to camera body 200.

Sub-camera 300 changes its shooting direction in various ways byrotating openable unit 230 relative to camera body 200 and rotatingsub-camera 300 clockwise or counterclockwise relative to openable unit230. For example, in the selfie mode shown in FIG. 3, sub-camera 300 cancapture downward or upward from the shooting direction shown in FIG. 3by rotating openable unit 230.

As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 4, sub-camera 300 also includes lens tiltmechanism 400 to change the shooting direction upward or downward.Sub-camera 300 can thus also change the shooting direction withoutrotating openable unit 230, i.e., in the state the direction of liquidcrystal monitor unit 240 is fixed. Lens tilt mechanism 400 is describedlater.

2. Block Circuit Configuration of Digital Video Camera

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration ofdigital video camera 100. As shown in FIG. 5, openable unit 230 ofdigital video camera 100 includes liquid crystal monitor unit 240,sub-camera 300, and switch unit 250 for detecting a rotating position ofsub-camera 300. Camera body 200 includes controller 260 that receivesinformation on the rotating position of sub-camera 300 sent from switchunit 250. Information on the rotating position of sub-camera 300 sentfrom switch unit 250 and image signals from an imaging element ofsub-camera 300 are sent to controller 260 of camera body 200 via liquidcrystal monitor unit 240. Although not illustrated, camera body 200includes an optical system of lens group, an imaging element such asCOMS image sensor, image processor, memory card slot, and control panelsuch as a shooting button, in addition to controller 260.

Controller 260 is a control means for controlling the entire digitalvideo camera 100, and is typically a microcomputer. Controller 260 maybe configured only by hardware, or by a combination of hardware andsoftware. Controller 260 outputs to liquid crystal monitor unit 240images captured by main camera 210 and sub-camera 300, and image signalsfor displaying a range of menu screens for various settings of digitalvideo camera 100.

3. Configuration of Sub-Camera

Next, the configuration of sub-camera 300 is described. FIG. 6 is anexploded perspective view of openable unit 230. As shown in FIG. 6,openable unit 230 includes liquid crystal monitor unit 240, upper case230 a, lower case 230 b, sub-camera 300, sub-camera hinge unit 310, andswitch unit 250 having flexible printed wiring board 350.

Liquid crystal monitor unit 240 includes electronic control board 240 bon the side of upper case 230 a that is the back of a display. Anelectrical circuit for controlling liquid crystal monitor unit 240, aconnector to which flexible printed wiring board 350 for taking out theelectric signal from sub-camera 300 is connected, and a connector forelectrically connecting to controller 260 of camera body 200 aredisposed on this electronic control board 240 b. Electronic controlboard 240 b is electrically connected to controller 260 of camera body200 to send and receive image signals and control signals to and fromcontroller 260.

Upper case 230 a and lower case 230 b are integrally coupled to form acasing of openable unit 230. Upper case 230 a and lower case 230 b houseliquid crystal monitor unit 240 when they are integrally coupled.Sub-camera 300 is assembled with upper case 230 a and lower case 230 bvia sub-camera hinge unit 310 and switch unit 250. Sub-camera hinge unit310 configures a rotatable shaft mechanism to hold sub-camera such thatit can be rotated about first axis 401 in forward and backwarddirections. Sub-camera 300 is also electrically connected to electroniccontrol board 240 b disposed on liquid crystal monitor unit 240 viaflexible printed wiring board 350. This enables to send electric signalscorresponding to the rotating direction (shooting direction) ofsub-camera 300 to controller 260 according to switchover of the rotatingposition of sub-camera 300.

FIG. 7A is a perspective view of sub-camera 300, which is an imagingunit. FIG. 7B is a magnified perspective view of switch unit 250 ofsub-camera 300. As shown in FIG. 7A, sub-camera 300 includes cylindricalhousing 390 and lens tilt mechanism 400. Sub-camera hinge unit 310 andswitch unit 250 rotatably support sub-camera 300 around first axis 401relative to openable unit 230.

Sub-camera hinge unit 310 is provided on an upper end of sub-camera 300,and includes fitting 311, rotating end 312, and rotating shaft 313.Fitting 311 made of a metal sheet is fixed onto upper case 230 a andlower case 230 b of openable unit 230 typically with screw. Fitting 311has a screw hole to attach sub-camera hinge unit 310 to openable unit230 typically with screw. Rotating end 312 restricts a rotation rangewhen sub-camera 300 rotates about rotating shaft 313. Rotating shaft 313is the center of rotation of sub-camera 300 rotatably held relative toopenable unit 230, and configures one end of first axis 401. Sub-camerahinge unit 310 is configured to restrict the rotation range ofsub-camera 300 to 270 degrees. More specifically, in sub-camera hingeunit 310, when sub-camera 300 is rotated about rotating shaft 313 (firstaxis 401) clockwise or counterclockwise, rotating end 312 contacts ametal sheet of fitting 311 to restrict the rotation exceeding therotation range.

Lens tilt mechanism 400 includes camera unit 380 and operating member420, as shown in FIG. 7A. Camera unit 380 is disposed in the middle ofhousing 390, and includes lens holder 410, a lens group of opticalsystem (e.g., lens 381), and an imaging element, such as CMOS imagesensor. Camera unit 380 is electrically connected to flexible printedwiring board 350. Image signals captured by camera unit 380 are sent tocontroller 260 in camera body 200 via flexible printed wiring board 350.

Switch unit 250 detects the rotating position of sub-camera 300, and isconfigured to send electric signals corresponding to each of theshooting states of sub-camera to controller 260 via flexible printedwiring board 350. The shooting states include the non-use state (mode 1)in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 2, the selfie state (mode 2) in thedirection of arrow B in FIG. 3, and the confronting shooting state (mode3) in the direction of arrow C in FIG. 4.

As shown in FIG. 7B, switch unit 250 is disposed on the lower end ofsub-camera 300. Switch unit 250 includes switch body 320, flexibleprinted wiring board 350, rotating piece 370, and fixing plate 330 madeof a metal sheet holding these components.

Switch body 320 has a function as a holder for holding switch lever 340,is electrically connected to flexible printed wiring board 350, and isfixed onto fixing plate 330. Switch lever 340 is configured to indicatethe three modes when switch lever 340 tilts from a center referenceposition to a right or left position when the center is set as thereference position. Switch body 320 includes a biasing means inside tourge switch lever 340. The biasing means urges switch lever 340 toself-recover to the reference position even when switch lever 340displaces from the center reference position to a tilt position to theleft or right. Therefore, switch lever 340 self-recovers to the centerreference position by the biasing force of the biasing means when switchlever 340 is released from a state tilted to the left or right relativeto switch body 320.

Rotating piece 370 is disposed on fixing plate 330 in a rotatablysupported state, and rotates in line with the rotation of sub-camera300. More specifically, sub-camera 300 is rotatably supported by fitting311 on the side of sub-camera hinge unit 310, and rotatably supported byfixing plate 330 on the side of switch unit 250. Rotating cam 371 ofrotating piece 370 includes rotating cam groove 373, which is a notch,and slope 372 gradually inclined from an outer peripheral face ofrotating cam 371 to rotating cam groove 373. Rotating cam 371 has a camstructure (rotor) configured around first axis 401, which is therotating axis of sub-camera 300, and has a portion thicker than mainshaft 360 of rotating piece 370 and rotating cam groove 373 created bypartially notching the thick portion. Slope 372 with a specifiedinclination is formed on a portion connecting (boundary portion) theportion thicker than main shaft 360 and rotating cam groove 373.

The reference position of switch lever 340 does not need to be limitedto the center. The reference position may be a position tilted from thecenter position to either left or right, and the three modes may beindicated by this position, the center position, and a position oppositeto the reference position. It is apparent that switch lever 340 is notlimited to a structure of indicating the three modes. It may beconfigured to indicate four or five modes. Switch lever 340 is thusconfigured to at least indicate three modes, i.e., first mode, second,mode, and third mode.

Switch lever 340 changes its detection state based on a tilt angle in adirection tilted relative to switch body 320. As sub-camera 300 rotatesabout the rotating axis, slopes 372 formed on both ends of rotating camgroove 373 of rotating cam 371 rotate while making contact with switchlever 340. Slope 372 is provided at a predetermined tilt angle so thatswitch lever 340 can detect transition between mode 1 and mode 2, andtransition between mode 2 and mode 3 in line with the rotation ofrotating cam 371. If the imaging surface of sub-camera 300 (the side oflens 381 of camera unit 380) is configured to face the direction ofphotographer when switch lever 340 comes to the position facing rotatingcam groove 373, the position of rotating cam groove 373 is preferablydesigned to avoid capturing a part of camera body 200 (rear part) in theshooting range of sub-camera 300.

By setting the height of rotating cam 37 in the rotating directionhigher than that of switch lever 340, switch lever 340 reliably contactsrotating cam 371.

4. Operation of the Detection Switch in Line with the Rotation ofSub-Camera)

FIG. 8 illustrates transition of switch unit 250 in line with therotation of sub-camera 300.

Mode 1 in FIG. 8 shows the non-use state of sub-camera 300. As shown inFIG. 2, the non-use state (mode 1) is the state that the imaging surfaceof sub-camera 300 faces inward of openable unit 230 (a direction ofarrow A in FIG. 8 and FIG. 2). Here, as shown in mode 1 in FIG. 8,switch lever 340 is tilted and biased in one direction relative toswitch body 320 by making contact with rotating cam 371 of rotatingpiece 370. Switch body 320 sends a signal indicating that sub-camera 300is in the non-use state (mode 1) to controller 260 in camera body 200via flexible printed wiring board 350.

Mode 2 in FIG. 8 shows the state that sub-camera 300 is rotated from thenon-use state to the selfie state. The selfie state (mode 2) is thestate that sub-camera 300 is rotated for a predetermined angle from mode1 in FIG. 8 and the imaging surface of sub-camera 300 faces a directionof photographer (a direction of arrow B in FIG. 8 and FIG. 3), as shownin FIG. 3. More specifically, when sub-camera 300 is in the selfiestate, a positional relationship is such that rotating cam groove 373faces switch lever 340, as shown in mode 2 in FIG. 8. Here, switch lever340 is released from the state urged in one direction by rotating cam371 and self-recovers to the center reference position. Switch body 320sends a signal indicating that sub-camera 300 is in the selfie state tocontroller 260 in camera body 200 via flexible printed wiring board 350.

Mode 3 in FIG. 8 is the state that sub-camera 300 rotates from theselfie state to the confronting shooting state. The confronting shootingstate (mode 3) is the state that the imaging surface of sub-camera 300is further rotated from mode 2 in FIG. 8 to face substantially the samedirection as main camera 210 (a direction of arrow C in FIG. 8 and FIG.4). Here, as shown in mode 3 in FIG. 8, switch lever 340 contacts slope372 formed on rotating cam 371 of rotating piece 370, and is urged totilt in a direction different from mode 1 in FIG. 8 by being pushedfurther by rotating cam 371. Here, switch body 320 sends a signalindicating that sub-camera 300 is in the confronting shooting state tocontroller 260 of camera body 200 via flexible printed wiring board 350.

As described above, digital video camera 100 can detect whether therotating position of sub-camera 300 is in the non-use state (mode 1 inFIG. 2 and FIG. 8), the selfie state (mode 2 in FIG. 3 and FIG. 8), orthe confronting shooting state (mode 3 in FIG. 4 and FIG. 8) by usingswitch unit 250.

As described above, switch unit 250 includes switch body 320 havingswitch lever 340 that is a lever unit configured to self-recover to thereference position, and rotating piece 370 with which switch lever 340makes contact. Rotating piece 370 has rotating cam 371 with rotating camgroove 373 that is a notch on a part of rotating cam 371. As rotatingpiece 370 rotates about the axis in one direction, rotating piece 370transits to mode 1 in which switch lever 340 does not face rotating camgroove 373, mode 2 in which switch lever 340 faces rotating cam groove373 in the reference position, and mode 3 in which switch lever 340 doesnot face rotating cam groove 373. Switch body 320, which is a detector,detects whether rotating piece 370 is in mode 1, mode 2, or mode 3.Controller 260 then determines the shooting direction of sub-camera 300based on a signal from switch body 320.

Accordingly, in switch unit 250, the direction of switch lever 340changes according to the shooting direction of sub-camera 300: adirection of arrow A in FIG. 2, a direction of arrow B in FIG. 3, or adirection of arrow C in FIG. 4. Switch body 320, which is the detectorin switch unit 250, can send a signal corresponding to the direction ofswitch lever 340 to controller 260.

Next is described lens tilt mechanism 400 for changing the shootingdirection of camera unit 380 with reference to FIGS. 9 to 13. As shownin FIG. 9, sub-camera 300 can rotate about first axis 401 in forward andbackward directions in the state lens tilt mechanism 400 for tiltinglens 381 forward and backward is housed in housing 390. Lens tiltmechanism 400, as shown in FIG. 9 and FIG. 10, includes camera unit 380and operating member 420. Camera unit 380 includes lens 381 and lensholder 410 housing lens 381. In the exemplary embodiment, as shown inFIG. 9, first axis 401, second axis 402, and third axis 403 areorthogonal to each other. Camera unit 380 is rotatable about second axis402 in forward and backward directions, and operating member 420 isrotatable about third axis 403 in forward and backward directions.

Lens holder 410 holds the optical system, such as lens 381, on itssurface, and has first gear 411 extending around second axis 402. Lensholder 410 is supported by housing 390 such that lens holder 410 isrotatable about second axis 402 in forward and backward directions.First gear 411 is disposed on a rim of a plane (side wall 412) withsecond axis 402 of lens holder 410 as a normal, on the side of operatingmember 420. First gear 411 is configured with four gear teeth in FIG.10. However, the structure is not limited to four gear teeth. Anystructure with at least gear teeth on the back side of lens holder 410is acceptable. In the exemplary embodiment, lens holder 410 is rotatableabout second axis 402 in a range of 22 degrees upward and 22 degreesdownward relative to the horizontal direction.

Operating member 420 is disposed on the back side of lens holder 410,and supported by housing 390 such that operating member is rotatableabout third axis 403 in forward and backward directions. Operatingmember 420 is a disk member, and second gear 421 that engages with firstgear 411 is disposed upright on the side of lens holder 410 around thirdaxis 403. When operating member 420 rotates about third axis 403, secondgear 421 engages with first gear 411 to rotate first gear 411 aboutsecond axis 402. Lens holder 410 (camera unit 380) then rotates aboutsecond axis 402. Second gear 421 is configured with three gear teeth inFIG. 10 but not limited to this structure.

Operating member 420 includes operating knob 422 and gear 423. Operatingknob 422 is provided near second gear 421 and is bent and extendedtoward lens holder 410. Gear 423 for antislipping is provided at a rimof the disk member of operating member 420. The photographer can easilyrotate operating member 420 by operating operating knob 422 and gear 423for antislipping typically with fingers. Since operating knob 422 isbent and extended toward lens holder 410, operating knob 422 does notprotrude outside of cylindrical space 231 even if lens holder 410 isrotated about second axis 402 by operating member 420. Sub-camera 300can thus smoothly rotate about first axis 401 in cylindrical space 231.Operating knob 422 is formed extending along the outer peripheral faceof cylindrical space 231 so that operating knob 422 can be operatedrelative to camera unit 380 regardless of the rotating position ofsub-camera 300 rotating about first axis 401. In other words, operatingknob 422 is formed in a circumferential direction of first axis 401.

First axis 401, second axis 402, and third axis 403 do not need to bestrictly orthogonal to each other. As long as the plane with first axis401 as a normal, the plane with second axis 402 as a normal, and theplane with third axis 403 as a normal cross each other, any structure isacceptable. As an example, these three planes perpendicularly cross eachother in the exemplary embodiment.

Next is described the operation of lens tilt mechanism 400 withreference to FIGS. 11 to 13. FIG. 11, FIG. 12, and FIG. 13 show thestate of lens tilt mechanism 400 in the upright position, forward tiltposition, and backward tilt position of lens holder 410, respectively.

Camera unit 380 is supported such that it is rotatable about second axis402 in forward and backward directions relative to housing 390 so thatcamera unit 380 can be tilted in a predetermined angular range. Thepredetermined angular range is a range between the forward tilt positionII (see FIG. 12) in which camera unit 380 is tilted forward relative toupright position I and backward tilt position III (see FIG. 13) in whichcamera unit 380 is tilted backward relative to upright position I (seeFIG. 11) with reference to upright position I where optical axis O oflens 381 of camera unit 380 coincides with third axis 403.

Here, cylindrical space 231 is a cylindrical space formed as anoperation locus of housing 390 rotating about first axis 401. Housing390 includes forward tilt limiter (forward tilt stopper) 391 andbackward tilt limiter (backward tilt stopper) 392 for restricting aposition of forward tilting operation (forward tilt position II) inforward rotation and a position of backward tilting operation inbackward rotation (backward tilt position III) of lens holder 410 sothat lens holder 410 does not protrude outside cylindrical space 231when camera unit 380 rotates about second axis 402. More specifically,as shown in FIG. 12, lens holder 410 touches forward tilt limiter 391when camera unit 380 tilts forward, and thus camera unit 380 isrestricted at forward tilt position II. In the same way, as shown inFIG. 13, lens holder 410 touches backward tilt limiter 392 when cameraunit 380 tilts backward, and thus camera unit 380 is restricted atbackward tilt position III.

The restriction of the tilting operation of camera unit 380 at forwardtilt position II and backward tilt position III prevents protrusion ofcamera unit 380 outside cylindrical space 231, and ensures the smoothrotation of sub-camera 300 around first axis 401 inside cylindricalspace 231. In addition, the rotation of operating member 420 may berestricted to limit a rotation angle, so as to restrict the position oftilting operation of camera unit 380. For example, operating knob 422 ofoperating member 420 may contact a restricting member provided onhousing 390 for restricting the rotation of operating member 420. Or, aseparate protrusion may be provided on operating member 420 to restrictits rotation.

Accordingly, by the use of lens tilt mechanism 400, camera unit 380rotates about second axis 402 among forward tilt position II, uprightposition I, and backward tilt position III as the photographer rotatesoperating member 420 about third axis 403. As a result, camera unit 380of sub-camera 300 can be rotated about second axis 402 in forward andbackward directions regardless of an opening angle of openable unit 230.Still more, camera unit 380 can be tilted while being rotated aboutsecond axis 402 in forward and backward directions inside samecylindrical space 231, in addition to the rotation of entire sub-camera300 about first axis 401 in forward and backward directions incylindrical space 231 formed in one end of openable unit 230.

Accordingly, the exemplary embodiment offers small sub-camera 300 withgood operability and digital video camera 100 including sub-camera 300that is rotatable forward and backward in two directions independently:first axis 401 and second axis 402.

In other words, in camera unit 380 that is rotatable about first axis401 in forward and backward directions in cylindrical space 231, lenstilt mechanism 400 in the exemplary embodiment enables camera unit 280to rotate and tilt about second axis 402 in forward and backwarddirections via engagement of second gear 421 and first gear 411 byrotating operating member 420 about third axis 403 in forward andbackward directions inside this cylindrical space. Accordingly, lenstilt mechanism 400 has a simple and compact structure, and sub-camera300 can rotate forward and backward about first axis 401 and also rotateforward and backward about second axis 402 (the forward and backwardtilting operation of camera unit 380 by lens tilt mechanism 400) at thesame time inside cylindrical space 231 formed on one end of openableunit 230.

First gear 411 is always positioned on the side of operating member oflens holder 410 during the forward and backward rotation of lens holder410 about second axis 402, and thus first gear 411 is not exposed on thesurface, also achieving good appearance design.

5. Other Exemplary Embodiments

The above exemplary embodiment is described as an example of technologydisclosed in the present disclosure. However, technology in the presentdisclosure is not limited in any way by the exemplary embodiment. Otherexemplary embodiments including any change, replacement, addition, oromission to the exemplary embodiment are therefore intended to beembraced therein.

For example, the above exemplary embodiment has a structure thatsub-camera 300 transits from the non-use state (mode 1) to the selfiestate (mode 2), and then from the selfie state to the confrontingshooting state (mode 3), and sub-camera 300 faces the photographer whenswitch lever 340 comes to the position facing rotating cam groove 373.However, sub-camera 300 may transit from the non-use state to theconfronting shooting state, and then from the confronting shooting stateto the selfie state, and sub-camera 300 may be set to the confrontingshooting state when switch lever 340 comes to the position facingrotating cam groove 373. In other words, switch lever 340 may come tothe position facing rotating cam groove 373 at the center position whensub-camera 300 transits to at least three modes.

Still more, the shape of rotating cam groove 373 is not limited to theshape in the above exemplary embodiment. For example, rotating camgroove 373 may be formed by an arc notch. Still more, the state may beswitched when switch lever 340 faces slope 372.

Still more, the rotation limiter provided in sub-camera hinge unit 310restricts the rotation of sub-camera 300 to within a 270-degree rotationrange in the exemplary embodiment. However, the present disclosure isnot limited to this range. More specifically, sub-camera 300 may berotated beyond the 270-degree rotation range without providing therotation limiter in sub-camera hinge unit 310.

Still more, sub-camera 300, which is an imaging unit, in the exemplaryembodiment is rotatably fixed in cylindrical space 231 formed in one endof openable unit 230. However, sub-camera 300 may be detachably disposedrelative to openable unit 230. In this case, sub-camera 300 may havewired connection with openable unit 230 or wireless connection withcontroller 260 of camera body 200 for sending image signals.

To give an exemplary embodiment of the disclosed technology, attacheddrawings and components described herein may include those not essentialfor solving the disadvantage, in addition to components essential forsolving the disadvantage. It is therefore apparent that thesenon-essential components shall not be noted as essential just becausethey are included in attached drawings or description.

The exemplary embodiment described herein are therefore illustrative.All modifications including changes, replacements, additions, andomissions, which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of theclaims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The present disclosure is applicable to rotatable cameras, digital videocameras equipped with the camera, and imaging devices, such as otherwearable cameras and on-vehicle cameras.

What is claimed is:
 1. An imaging unit rotatable about a first axis,comprising: a lens holder holding a lens on its surface, having a firstgear on its rear face, and rotatable about a second axis in forward andbackward directions; and an operating member having a second gearengaged with the first gear, rotatable about a third axis in forward andbackward directions, and facing the rear face of the lens holder,wherein a plane with the first axis as a normal, a plane with the secondaxis as a normal, and a plane with the third axis as a normal areorthogonal to each other, and a rotation of the lens holder is executedby rotating the operating member.
 2. The imaging unit of claim 1,wherein the rotation of the lens holder is a rotation about the secondaxis in forward and backward directions between a forward tilt positionin which the lens is tilted forward relative to an upright position anda backward tilt position in which the lens is tilted backward relativeto the upright position, the upright position being defined as aposition where an optical axis of the lens coincides with the thirdaxis.
 3. The imaging unit of claim 2, wherein the operating memberincludes an operating knob, and the operating knob extends in acircumferential direction of the first axis in a state where the lensholder is positioned at the upright position.
 4. The imaging unit ofclaim 1, wherein the first gear is disposed on a rim of the plane withthe second axis as a normal of the lens holder, the rim being on a sideof the operating member, and the first gear is positioned on the lensholder on the side of the operating member in the rotation of the lensholder.
 5. The imaging unit of claim 2, further comprising: a housingsupporting the lens holder and the operating member, and rotatable aboutthe first axis; and a restricting member that is configured to restrictthe forward tilt position and the backward tilt position of the lensholder so that the lens holder is positioned in a cylindrical spaceformed as an operation locus of the housing rotating about the firstaxis, wherein the operating member is positioned within the cylindricalspace during its rotation about the third axis.
 6. An imaging apparatuscomprising: an imaging apparatus body; an openable unit coupled to theimaging apparatus body via a hinge unit; and the imaging unit of claim 1disposed at one end of the openable unit.
 7. An imaging apparatuscomprising: an imaging apparatus body; an openable unit coupled to theimaging apparatus body via a hinge unit; and the imaging unit of claim 5disposed at one end of the openable unit, wherein the cylindrical spaceof the imaging unit is formed at the one end of the openable unit.